|
A request by the city of Spokane Valley to cut $1 million off of
their contract with Spokane County for road maintenance was sidelined
by county commissioners last week.
Spokane Valley officials had asked the county to amend its two-year
contract, which cut services form $3,113,268 to $2,120,000, nearly
a one-third cut in the road maintenance budget.
According to Neil Kersten, Spokane Valley director of public works,
the cuts were to be an interim measure for the city.
"We are trying to get a handle on the costs of road maintenance,"
Kersten said. "We're trying to figure the real annual costs."
He added that while the reduction was significant, there was no
cut in snow removal for this winter.
"We may lose some road maintenance in the summer, such as
pothole repair, but it won't be a big impact," Kersten said.
He said some of the work lost by the county would be made up with
small contractors.
The cut in services, however, got the attention of county commissioners,
who, up until the city was incorporated, were providing full road
maintenance services for the Valley. In fact, in its agreement with
the city, the county promises to provide the same service inside
the city as it does in unincorporated areas outside the city.
But commissioners were worried about the county's image in the
city if the city cut its services so drastically.
"They're (city officials) telling us they don't want that
level of service," Commissioner John Roskelley said. "Too
many services are being cut that would make Spokane County look
bad."
He said he was concerned about the reduction in pot hole repairs,
curb repairs and other road maintenance activities the county usually
provides.
"If they continue with this, Spokane Valley will begin to be
just like the city of Spokane and its poor street conditions,"
Roskelley said.
The interlocal agreement is for two years. Roskelley said that
in the meantime the county will continue to provide services as
required by the agreement.
Kersten said he felt the commissioners were just not briefed thoroughly
about the city's motives. He said he was in contact with Ross Kelley,
county road engineer, to get the amendment back on the commissioners'
agenda.
Click
here to...
Subscribe to the Spokane Valley News Herald
|
